Christie provided its RGB pure laser projectors are lighting up the recently refurbished Infinity Dome theatre at TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary, Alberta. The dome stands three stories high and 21 meters (69 feet) across, making it one of the largest dome theatres in western Canada, and one of the brightest in North America with eight Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB pure laser projectors delivering 272,000 lumens. RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, global leader in digital planetariums, in partnership with Solotech, global leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology, specified and installed the new digital system.

The wide-ranging refurbishment of the theatre included the addition of reclined seats, an elevated stage and new carpeting, as well as a new audiovisual system. The selection and installation of a new projection system required close collaboration between Solotech, RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, the Spark team as well as consultants Bill Peters and Ian McLennan to ensure the best solution for the project. Says Bahar Gumus, Sales Manager, RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta, “Our teams worked together to understand the project needs, suggest high-quality solutions, install a state-of-the-art digital system and provide the necessary training to the planetarium operators and technical teams.”

“The science centre had very specific technical specifications, including the brightness and the resolution of the system,” says Philippe Giron, account manager, Solotech. To select the projectors best suited to the dome, Solotech organized a shoot-out between high-brightness models, including two blended Griffyn 4K32-RGB projectors.

“The planetarium project team was looking for a digital projection system capable of providing very high levels of brightness, vivid colors, with quiet operation,” adds Gumus. “Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB was the only projector to answer fully these requirements thanks to the high levels of brightness of 34,000 lumens per projector and very wide color gamut achieved with the RGB laser technology.” The installation included RSA Cosmos – Konica Minolta’s planetarium software SkyExplorer to offer breathtaking journeys through the Universe in real time, along with fun and interactive modules opening the dome to new content beyond astronomy.

The Griffyn 4K32-RGB projector achieves greater than 96% of the Rec.2020 color gamut to produce bright, true-to-life visuals, and operates quietly, at less than 46dBA at full brightness, to keep the focus on the content, not the projector.

Solotech created a 3D cloud point view to visualize every detail of the planetarium, which allowed the teams to plan for the installation and placement of the projectors. Given the dome’s shape, installing the projector mounts were a challenge. “The way the dome is made, there is only a little space between the bottom of the dome and the stage under the seats. We had to put the projector in this space and precisely angle them.” As a result, Solotech created custom-made mounts to exactly fit the projectors within the dome.

With the projection system successfully installed, the dome now delivers the brightest on-screen image of any planetarium in North America, with 272,000 lumens illuminating the massive screen in 8K resolution. “When you are in the dome and you see eight 34,000 lumen projectors at the same time perfectly calibrated, it’s mind-blowing,” says Giron. “Everyone involved was very happy with the results.”

“With our local partner Solotech, we are delighted to have installed this high-performing digital system in one of Canada’s leading planetariums and dynamic science centres, dedicated to innovative education in science and technology, and we are extremely satisfied by the rendering achieved by using Christie projectors,” says Gumus.